Original subtitles

This is a true story.

It happened right here in my town two years ago.

A lot of people die in a lot of really weird ways in this story, but you're not

going to find it in the news or anywhere like that, because the police and the

top people in this town were like so embarrassed that they weren't able to

it, so they covered everything up.

But if you come here and ask anyone, they'll all tell you the same thing that

I'm going to tell you now.

This story starts in my school.

Mabel Elementary is kindergarten through fifth grade.

So this one Wednesday is like a normal day for the whole school.

And they had this teacher who was new.

Her name was Justine Candy.

And on this day, she was going to her classroom just like every morning.

But the day was different.

Today, none of her kids were there.

Every other class at that school had all their kids. Even the other third grade

Mrs. Beltop was full.

But Mrs. Gandy's room was totally empty.

Well, not totally.

There was one boy there, and his name was Alex Lilly.

And he was the only kid...

in the class of 18 that came to school that day.

And do you know why?

He was the only one there.

Because the night before, at 2 .17 in the morning, every other kid woke up,

got out of bed, walked downstairs,

opened the front door, walked across the front yard and into the dark.

And he never...

What's out there?

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

All the parents and people at the school were really sad and upset.

The police could tell that the kids left at 2 .17 because like half the houses

had alarms that got tripped when they walked outside.

Some of the kids even got videoed by the houses that had cameras.

But the cameras only showed the kids walking out into the darkness.

They didn't show where they went after that.

The police talked to Alex the boss.

They asked him why his classmates did what they did, but he told them he

know.

They asked him if there was a plan.

But he said if there was, he never heard it.

They asked him if there was a TV show where someone ran away like that.

But he said if there was, he never saw it.

They also talked to Miss Candy a whole bunch.

But she also didn't know anything and couldn't help them.

For almost a whole month, they kept the school closed for their fake

investigation.

But after a while, they had to open everything back up.

so that the kids that didn't disappear could learn again.

One night before they did, they had a big meeting at the school.

There was a bunch of counselors and people like that to help everybody

out how to feel and be sad together, I guess.

This is where the story really starts.

What's important is that we don't judge our grief.

We might experience emotions we don't like.

Emotions besides sadness.

We need to make sure that we allow ourselves to feel emotions like anger.

Anger is a very healthy part of the grief cycle.

It can be especially powerful in instances of abandonment. Now there are

times that we have... What does that mean?

Especially powerful in instances of abandonment?

Are you saying that we should be upset with Matthew for what happened to him?

Because I'll tell you right now that you may call it what happened to Benedict,

but I don't see it like that. I see something that doesn't make any sense at

all. Talking about 17 kids and one classroom.

What happened in that classroom?

Why just her classroom? Why only her?

I'm picking up a lot of emotion in that spot.

So you forgive me if I'm not particularly interested in hearing any

you.

I want to hear from Justine Canyon.

In here, I want to do exactly what she was doing in there.

Nothing I can say to make this better.

The truth is that I want an answer just as bad as all of you.

I love those kids.

I'm curious, if the gandhi appear as an affected member of this community until

you find them.

Where are our children?

That's enough. Everybody needs to think of a concept.

Please. For a long, long life, we need to get some sleep, wake up tomorrow with

clarity.

I don't know what to think.

But I recommend going straight home and I know it feels like...

Do you want to save it up a bus ticket to see my brother? Yeah, I'm sorry.

Watch your back, because sometimes you're nice enough.

Miss, I'm saving up for a bus ticket to take my brother. Do you have any change

on you at all? Sorry. Okay, thank you.

How do you feel about it?

Hello?

Yes?

You're going to keep your health insurance, and if you don't mind me

there's a lot of mental health specialists on the plan.

Some of them are... I just need to work, you know? I just need to fill my days

with... Yeah, I need to work, so... Justine, the scene last night

just proved that we have a lot of emotional parents here.

For now, I think it's best if you keep some distance from this place until

find a time to...

I

would

like to speak with him.

Well,

I would feel so much better if I could just speak with him.

He's been scrutinized by the press. He's had investigators ransack his house.

He's been traumatized. Let's try and put Alex first. Yes? If you're implying

that I don't care about Alex or the student or... The issue isn't you caring

not caring. The issue here is you have a pattern in which you overstep

professional lines. Oh, my God. Here we go. You know, I do not... You know it's

not appropriate to hug students.

Oh, I have to crying little boy. Lock me up. You know, driving students home...

It's not professional.

She left the bus. She was going to. It's not appropriate.

I know all of this comes from the fact that you care.

I know that you aren't a threat to these kids, but you have to realize you

aren't a parent. You're a taker.

There's a difference.

And for that reason, no, you cannot talk to Allie.

Yeah, it's really on there, huh?

Yeah, I've been receiving phone calls as well.

For anyone.

Yeah? Think the caller might be responsible for this?

I don't know.

Maybe, maybe not.

Yeah, well, whatever it was, best we can do is file a report.

Probably kids did this if you ask me.

I mean, I used to do stuff like this when I was in school.

You know, teepee houses, ding -dong ditch.

I never...

Hey. Can we hug?

Yeah, of course we can hug. Jesus.

What happened to your hand? Yeah. Oh, I should take the board back.

Wait. Nothing? Drink?

Sure. Uh, Tony?

Tony? Yeah, he'll be here in a sec.

Good. Fine.

Not in a rush.

Um, wow. So, I didn't expect you to come.

I'm glad you texted.

You know, I've been thinking about you a lot, and I wanted to call, but I

didn't. No, they have a big thing.

I don't know.

I'm not some little delicate flower that wilts if I say your name. I know that,

but I'm not.

Tony,

my friend wants a drink.

Hi, come on.

Go ahead.

How are we doing?

Hi, I'll get a Coke.

A Coke?

So what's going on? How are you?

I hope

he didn't drive here.

Why do you hope that? I hope he didn't drive here. Wait.

Don't be an asshole.

I'm not being an asshole.

I'm concerned about you. You know what?

I don't need your fucking concern.

Okay? I'm not drunk. Okay. Got it.

Somebody vandalized your car?

They wrote witch across it, so yes. For your information, everybody thinks I'm a

witch. So yes.

One Coke. Thank you.

Can I give you a little, uh... Tesla?

No, just some thoughts from somebody who knows you very well.

Get out of your own head.

People are not all thinking about you right now, okay?

The whole town isn't named you.

I think you might actually be wrong about that.

You have a tendency to get a little woe with me.

Wow. And one thing I know has never helped is this.

What is this?

What?

A lonely drinking pity party.

I can't say.

Does Donna know you're here?

No. Really?

No. We're not, you know, we're not happening right now.

Wow.

Not a big deal.

Mm -hmm.

You're ridiculous.

Look at you.

You're beaming.

Of one really. It's the same. No. Come on. It's the same.

Please.

No.

Fuck me.

You have a change of gift.

What do you got going on today?

I believe you, Jesus.

What?

Don't worry.

I'm not going to be, like, bam texting you all day and night.

I learned my lesson. Justine, I'm just saying I'm working.

That's it.

How's work?

It's fine. It's what I want.

Wow.

I hope that's not the general vibe over there.

What does that mean?

Well, there's 17 missing children out there, and I like to think the people in

charge of finding them aren't like, ooh, whatever about the job.

First of all, I'm not a detective. I don't know if you know that.

Second of all, I'm hungover as shit.

I didn't realize I was getting grilled on the investigation.

No, no, no, I'm not trying to grill. I'm just wondering if I need to solve this

thing myself. We're on it.

You're on it? Yep.

Okay. Well, what a... Lay up, load off. You're on it.

Right now, you really need to take it easy.

No one's lacking.

Don't let yourself get all... I don't just think about it.

Just leave the investigators to the investigators.

Hello?

I explicitly told you not to interact with Alex. Well, technically, I didn't

interact with him. Your house was his home. You rang his doorbell repeatedly

spied through a window.

Look, can we just focus on the fact that the house is bizarre? Well, see, if I

wasn't clear with you before, let me do so now.

I want you to leave him alone.

Okay, why were his windows taped up? Doesn't that seem strange to you?

because nosy people take it upon themselves to walk up and peek through

But he's not gay.

I'm going to do you the courtesy of forgetting this phone call had to come

I'm done with all this!

I just wanted to say hi, because I've been thinking about you a lot, and I

wanted to make sure you're okay.

I'm okay.

Yeah, because I know it's been a really hard time for me, and

I can't even imagine how it's been like... I have to go.

Hey, hang on, please.

I just want to make sure that everything's all right. Don't follow me!

I'm going to work.

Call your own morning, boss.

Yeah, I had a snack on the way over.

How are things looking?

A little bit of chaotic morning.

Yeah? Yeah.

Mark went to go pick up the siding, but didn't have it in.

There was an order number got placed.

Shit. God damn it, man.

All right, I'm sorry about that.

Yeah, we got an owner coming Friday for a walkthrough, but we still had to open

frame it.

It's on me. It's my bad.

And then I stood up and I see that Alvin came to the door with the paint that's

the order. Yeah?

The one for his green, that's red.

What? God damn it. Wait a minute. Did they send the rose? That's the order.

We ordered it.

They said we asked for it, but we asked for what's the order. All right, I

fucked up.

I'll take it back. Get the right one.

So I can assure you that as we speak, we have officers aggressively pursuing

everything that comes through this station.

What about the facts? They got nothing new? There continues to be a very

information exchange, so I can tell you with full confidence that they are also

pursuing everything aggressively.

What's happening with the K -9 units? I haven't heard about any K -9 reports in

a long time. That's because they don't report to you.

Mr. Graff, I can understand your passion. I don't mind having these

conversations with you because, God forbid, if it was my pal, I'd be

answers, too. But I need you to trust that what we're doing... She's still not

talking, huh?

She knows.

I disagree with that.

You're aggressively following up on every lead, and yet she's just out there

walking around free as a bird.

Have you done any looking into her whatsoever?

Extensively, yes, we have. So you know about her past, huh? Because I've done

some digging, and I've found out a lot.

She had a DUI two years ago. Did you not see that?

She was let go from her last school that she taught at for inappropriate

behavior. Did you not see that one either?

With a member of her faculty.

She's a troubled person. Is she not?

What is it you think that she knows?

what do you think it is that she's not telling us because those kids walked out

of the phone what do you

see that i don't i see

something that i don't understand at all we're talking about 17 kids and one

classroom and none of them talked about it we got how many parents in here and

none of us saw it coming

I want to know what happened in that classroom.

Why did her classroom, why only her?

Matthew?

Matthew!

Wait.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry that I wasn't able to...

that I wasn't able... I wanted to say it so many

times.

I really do want to say it all the time because I feel it all the time.

I love you so much.

Hello. How are you?

I'm Archer Graff. I know who you are. Hi. Good. I know we haven't spoken

directly.

We've seen each other in a lot of the same. How are you, Archer? I'm good. I'm

real good.

You know, all things considered, you're just soldiering on.

We have to, don't we?

We do.

Listen, I'm sorry to surprise you at home like this in the middle of the day,

but I don't know if you know, but we got some footage of Matthew leaving the

house on our ring can thing here.

I think you folks had the same situation with Bailey?

That's right.

All right, well, I'm sure you showed yours to the police just like I did.

I wondered if you would mind letting me take a look at it.

I don't need a copy or anything. I'm not comfortable with that.

Archer Graff, how you doing?

Fine.

Matthew's done.

Yeah, of course.

How's it going?

Um, I have a strange question I need to ask you.

Wait,

go back to where she steps on the sidewalk.

Right.

one two three four five

What am I looking at?

Hey, I want to talk to you. I don't think we have anything to say to each

Yeah, I think you have a lot to say. You and every other person in this city,

believe me, the message is loud and clear. I'm the problem, got it. You know

what? I think that's the first honest thing I've heard you say. You are the

problem. What, you want to get in my face? You want to threaten me?

Nobody's threatening you right now. You're talking about the wrong tree,

Are you like this whole victim persona that you're taking?

Thank you.

Six nights, right?

Three, excellent.

Apparently, I don't have to be here for the big wrap -up. She takes so I can

tell you about Thursday.

Isn't that great?

Yeah, that's good.

Because I'm supposed to ovulate Friday, so we can hit the target this month.

Nice, okay.

Yeah, good.

I thought you'd like that.

Oh, will you tell my dad when you see him today that I'll be back for the

weekend so we can make their anniversary lunch thing?

Yeah. I'll let him know. He'll be happy.

You about to start your shift?

Yep. You got to hit a meeting afterwards?

Um, I wasn't planning on it.

Don't you think you should?

Uh, if I have time, I'll hit one. Oh.

Especially when you're going to be spending stretches alone, I think it's

important that you go to a regular meeting. I'm not going to drink, Donna.

feel fine. If I don't feel fine, then I'll hit a meeting.

Okay.

Okay, don't forget to tell my dad about this weekend. Yes.

Love you.

Love you.

Hey, Ed.

Hey, buddy.

Donna's back Friday, so we're good to have lunch with you guys on Sunday.

Why didn't you tell me about it earlier? Yes, the cousin was, so she wanted me

to let you know that we're in.

Okay, sounds good.

Anniversary, uh, lunch?

Yep. Oh, thanks. Well, congratulations and... Oh, thanks.

A lot of years.

You call me old?

No. No, sir. No, no, no. Why would you call me old?

No, I wasn't saying that. I'm giving you a shift.

Well, just start my shift here.

Roger that.

Next Monday, we'll mark 30 days since 17 grade school children have disappeared

from McCarran County. Community members have issued a $50 ,000 reward for any

information leading to their recovery.

Any suspicious individual activity should be reported.

Stop or you're going to get the taser!

Dude, please stop, stop, stop, stop. Shut up. I was waiting. I weren't there,

man. I just lost my keys.

Please.

I lost my keys. Please.

You okay?

Yes, officer. I'm okay.

All right. We went down pretty hard there. You good? Officer, I'm okay.

call my warehouse. You can look the number up online. My phone isn't working

right now. Cops, get your hands okay?

Yes, okay, officer.

Let's walk back to the car.

One, two, three.

Hey,

what's your name, sir?

James. James, okay. Stand right here for me, James.

You got any weapons on you?

No. No?

How about drugs? You holding?

No, sir.

Anything in your pocket's going to stick me when I put my hands in there, James.

No, sir, I do not.

You sure? I don't want to get poked by anything.

I have nothing, sir.

Okay, James. Hold still for me there.

Shouldn't run from the police, sir.

Okay, up, up, get up.

Hey, you hear me?

James, you with me?

What the fuck?

You're gonna hit me, bro.

Here's what's gonna happen now.

I'm gonna take these cuffs off you, okay?

I'm gonna get in my car in a second, I'm gonna drive away.

But are you listening to me?

I don't wanna see you here again, okay?

The way I see it, I did you wrong, you did me wrong.

Let's just call it a day.

But if I see you out here again, it's going to be a different story.

Yes?

Yes?

I mean it.

Okay, consider yourself warm. Now, let's get up. I'm going to get these cuffs

off you. One, two.

Somebody needs to just tell this guy his kid is not the only kid missing.

There's 17 kids.

All of them.

and doesn't come back here in a month and file a complaint, this could all go

away.

But if they do, Paul, you've been being so serious how long?

You get that hand checked out?

Yeah, of course you can hide.

You're home.

I am.

Someone got sick and they sent everyone on my team, on work.

Where have you been?

I was, uh, I don't know.

Son of a bitch.

Hey!

What did I tell you? Huh?

What did I tell you?

What did I tell you?

Bullshit.

Come on, goddamn it, fucking come on.

Yes.

Goddamn it.

Fucking shit.

Fuck.

Yo, new phone.

It's me, dude.

Um, dude, I got a job yesterday.

Yeah, thank you, man. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Yeah, um, so I just like

the little team trying to call me because I just, I can't start until I

like, new shoes and, you know, a whole outfit because, you know, like I said,

it's fancy.

And, um, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,

wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,

wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,

wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,

wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,

wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,

wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,

wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,

wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,

wait,

wait,

I hope you're communicating very well. How important it is that I get just like

a little bit of money so that I can get the clothes at the job so that I can get

the job, obviously.

So please call me back so I can communicate that better. Thanks, buddy.

you.

Hell yeah!

It's a good book. It's worth like 50 bucks.

No. 20.

But if I see you out here again, it's gonna be a different story.

Yeah.

Consider yourself warned.

Fuck it.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, um...

Hello?

You good?

How about the $50 ,000 reward for information about the missing kids?

know where they are.

I mean, I'm pretty sure all of them, I don't know, look like one stone. They're

all standing in the basement of this house, just, like, standing there.

And, yeah, I don't know, they're just, like, in the basement, standing all

and still. There's, like, fucking two wackos over there, and it's just, like,

fucked up.

But, so, how does the film work, though? How do I get the money?

No, I'm not, I'm completely serious. I mean, I can show you. Like, I'll show

you.

But I just, I, uh...

I really don't want to come in. Could someone come meet me somewhere with the

cab? I really don't like police stations.

It kind of freaks me out.

I'm phobic.

Okay.

That's fucking wild.

You're fucking lying.

I promise. I promise. I know where they are. I promise.

Where?

At a house not far in the basement.

What the fuck do you mean? What house?

I can show you, man. It's really, really, really close.

Asshole, do you have AIDS?

Uh, uh, I don't think so.

Hepatitis? Shit like that?

I mean, shit not that I know of.

Um, I don't wanna be rude, but like, how do I know you aren't gonna try and

like, take that award for yourself?

What the fuck?

Get out of here!

God damn it!

Oh, thank you.

I'm telling you, Marcus, I've seen it myself.

There's something very, very wrong going on inside of that house. If you don't

believe me, just go to your house.

Here's the bottom line.

Alex has been traumatized enough by the events of the last few months, as I'm

sure you have.

Which is why I'm going to do you the courtesy of forgetting that this phone

ever took place. If a child's welfare is questioned by law, you have to refer it

to CPS by law. Are you really going to take it there?

Is this the point you're going to put me in? Just go make a house call, Marcus.

Just do that. I'm not authorized to just make house calls.

Okay, here's what I'll do. I'll invite these parents, come in, have a talk with

me. We'll have a face -to -face at the school.

Is that acceptable to you?

Yes, thank you. I would really appreciate that.

Okay, then. You're welcome. Goodbye.

Stop.

Your two o 'clock is here.

That's fine.

Thank you for coming

in. I know you guys have had a lot of attention lately, not all of it.

Possibly be wondering. I'm happy to come by.

Fine. Okay, forgive me.

We have not met, is that right?

No, I don't think so. Okay, phew. I was relatively certain I'd remember.

I know I've met Alex's father before. I'm Alex's aunt, and his mom is my baby

sister. Okay, so you're not his legal guardian?

Well, no, that would be his parents, of course.

Okay, well, forgive me, Gladys, but unfortunately, I need to speak with his

parents.

Well, I hate to say it, but his parents have been feeling unwell as of late, and

I'm staying with them to help take care of Alex.

Oh, is that serious?

Oh, no, no, it's not serious. Nothing terminal. It's just a touch of

consumption. A touch of consumption?

Yes.

i'm embarrassed to say i guess i don't really know what that means i thought it

was something settlers got on the oregon trail what is it tuberculosis you know

what we are doing just fine but they need to stay home i had hoped

to speak to them in person because this is awkward but uh

A concerned individual has lodged a welfare complaint and unfortunately I

to make contact with a child's legal guardian. It's something that's not

negotiable. I need to speak with the parents in person.

Oh dear.

I could come over to the house if that would make it easier.

I'm just trying to avoid involving CPS, but frankly I'm not convinced that

anything is wrong.

Who made the complaint?

I'm not at liberty to say.

Well, this is very upsetting it is now

Fungal fruiting occurs next.

Lodge blooms. The spring blooms.

Thank

God

you're home.

I'm so sorry to disturb you on a Saturday. Oh, will you please, please

me? You're just sitting down.

The bus didn't pick me up to where it was scheduled to. And I had realized far

too late that I was standing on the wrong corner. And by the time I put that

together, oh, I'd missed it entirely.

So I had to walk all the way across town to get here. Well, I'm so sorry to hear

that. I am sorry to tell you this, sweetie, but I am on the verge of

Oh.

some water i'm afraid that's oh of course you can have some water

my name is gladys it's so nice to meet you oh

i absolutely love this house look a giraffe to the green chinese look that's

original in there i bet it is oh i just love this kitchen clean white cabinets

how are indians in that now listen i know that inconvenient, but I really

to speak to you about our conversation yesterday.

A bowl, please.

A bowl?

Yes, a bowl. It's a peculiarity of mine. I don't even try to rationalize it

anymore.

A bowl of water.

Okay. Thank you.

I wanted you to know that I talked to Alex's father, who's very ill, as I

but... The good news is he's more than happy to come in Monday, sit down with

you, and clear everything down.

Yeah, I appreciate that, but clearly it isn't necessary.

So, there's no need to contact the authorities, right?

That's, uh, true. I just thought... I mean, you haven't contacted them yet,

right? Gladys, I'm really going to have to insist that you work.

Is that thing worth it?

You haven't contacted them.

No, I didn't. Oh, my goodness.

Why would you do that?

Well, it was an accident, of course.

Wow, that's really bleeding.

Terry, go get the alcohol in the first aid kit.

Oh, no, no, no, that's nonsense.

Could you get me a rag, please?

Ah!

I think she cut my hair.

I'm calling 911.

Marcus, I think she cut my hair.

Marcus.

What did she do?

Who and I are going to have a conversation?

Are you okay?

Yeah, I think so.

I just, uh, scraped up.

You?

You said.

I want to thank you.

No, I do, so thank you.

Sure.

What else could I do?

I was out of control.

The last time I talked to him, he was fine.

He really was.

I've never seen anything like that in my life.

I have.

What are you talking about?

The way he was running.

I've seen that before.

Can I show you something?

Their little girl ran the same way Matthew did.

Same posture, same exact way, just like Marcus ran after you today.

It was weaponized, like a heat -seeking missile just locked onto you.

So here, look at this.

This is my house. This is Bailey Kramer's house.

Now, if you assume they were heading in a straight line and just some target of

theirs, and you assume they both had the same target, those lines intersect

somewhere around here. Oh, my God.

So there must be something about this area. What?

Alex Lilly lives in this house.

Your mom's in a class coming, remember?

Why do we have to have her live in our house?

Because it's like we talked about.

She's thick, and she doesn't have anywhere else to go.

But I don't even know her, though.

I hear you, but I don't know her either.

To be honest, I'm not sure your mom knows her that well, but she's family.

Family's important.

You gotta help each other.

Hey, tell the kids.

Hey, men have a turn.

Hi. Hi. Whoa, hey.

Good day at school?

Yeah. Okay, good. I would really like to get this house cleaned up before your

Aunt Gladys gets here. So do me a favor, get your room cleaned up before you

start your homework.

She's not coming to my room, is she?

I really like a clean house. That includes your room. So, let's go.

I know, it's horrible cleaning up after yourself.

She looks really bad.

I don't know if that's the place. Yeah, well, it's either here or out on the

street, Stephen. Well, you know, this ain't a hospice place. I know that.

not equipped for this kind of thing.

We haven't seen this woman in 15 years. She didn't show up to our wedding. Look,

my mom would do this for her, so I'm going to do this for her.

You can really use your support at any point you feel like.

Alec, honey, what are you doing?

I'm hungry.

you're hungry okay all right then go downstairs eat up and then go brush your

teeth okay almost 7 30.

and be quiet back there you're glad it's sleeping

How long is she going to stay with us?

I'm going to stay here.

I won't wait for you to give me a chance.

Is she going to stay with us forever?

No.

I don't think she'll be here longer than a month.

All righty. Take care of it, too, okay? See ya. See ya.

Love you.

Love you.

It's time.

Pencils down.

Matthew! What? You said pencils down. Matthew, outside now.

Alex, are you okay?

I'm fine.

Matthew, let's go. Get your bag.

Oh, my God.

Where were you?

Hey, X -Man.

That was cool.

What's wrong?

Alex?

Oh, welcome home.

Who are you, sweetie?

Let me take a look at you. Oh, you know, I haven't seen you since you were a

little teeny baby.

I'm with my parents.

Oh, nothing, sweetheart. They're just fine.

You see, I told you she's just fine. Don't worry.

Alex, now don't be rude.

Why don't you sit down at the table because I'm making dinner.

I should have asked you, but you weren't here, so I brought mac and cheese with

me.

Dad!

Alex, that's it. I want you to go upstairs, wash your face, brush your

and then it's bedtime. No dinner for you.

Not for a moment. Go.

Don't worry about your parents. They're just resting.

Now, before you go to school today, I want you to promise that you will not

a living soul that I am here or that your parents are resting like they are.

Do you hear me, Alex?

Stop!

Stop, Dad!

Alice!

Now, when I tell you that you are not to speak about me or your parents to

anyone, you understand what can happen if you break your promise.

I can make your parents hurt themselves. I can make them hurt each other.

I can make them eat each other if I want to.

Do I want to, Alex?

Promise you will not talk about me to another human being. Say it.

I promise.

Because I'll know, Alex.

Go to school.

No talking today.

Good boy.

You'll need to feed your parents. There's soup in the cabinet.

Tomorrow you get some more.

Come here, sweetie.

I'm very thick, Alex.

Would you like some water?

Water won't help me.

I'm too sick for water.

I have been for a very long time.

What will make you better?

Well, I was hoping your mom and dad would make me feel better, but it

seem to be turning out so good.

Would you like to go to a hospital?

Hospital won't fix me.

But maybe you could, though. You could help.

Help?

Well, it's school.

Bring an object from each of your classmates home to me.

That might work.

How will that make you better?

It might be just what I need.

And if you got better, you'd go back home?

If I got better, I'd go back home.

Um, I didn't feel like playing, and I forgot something.

Ooh, okay, hey, hey.

Are you okay?

Yeah. Yeah?

You've been awful quiet lately.

Quieter than usual.

How are you doing?

I'm okay.

You know, if you ever want to talk to someone, you can always talk to me.

Do you know that?

Yeah. You can talk to me about anything you want.

are you doing?

you

Steven here suffered a stroke a little while back, so he's been able to speak.

And I'm taking care of the family, so they thank me.

I'm glad you both are here.

Alex, how you doing, pal?

I'm okay.

We're going to ask you some questions about what happened at school, okay?

Tomorrow people will come here.

And they will search this house.

And we have to be ready.

We just wanted to come by the house for a few minutes today and look around to

the environment that Alex has been living in.

Okay. Oh, thank you. Hey,

Alex, how are you doing today?

It was a little quiet today, right? Yeah.

Thank you.

Hello? That's the thing, Alex. We're leaving tomorrow.

Don't step over the salt.

The cops are here.

What do you think that means?

I don't know.

Do we knock? Do we come back?

Maybe we knock.

And say what?

What are we going to explain?

Yeah, I don't know. Let's go.

What is this?

Yeah.

Hello?

Paul?

Oh.

What are you doing back there? Wait.

That's good just like that.

Matthew. Alex's

parents

are still being fed soup somewhere, but not by him.

He moved to another town and lives with a different home.

I heard that one is a nice lady.

All of the kids from his class got reunited with their parents.

Some of them even started talking again this year.